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News and Information from the City of Bulverde and our Neighbors Issue 10 œ October 2015
Photo Š Michelle Grizzell
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CITY OF BULVERDE ALL DEPARTMENTS
HTTP://BULVERDETX.GOV MAIN NUMBER 830-438-3612
KenCom Real Estate Services
METRO LINE 830-980-8832 FAX 830-438-4339 Bill Krawietz, MAYOR Rob Hurst, MAYOR PRO TEM
Yvonne Chapman, COUNCIL
Kirk Harrison, COUNCIL
Gene Hartman, COUNCIL
Ray Jeffrey, COUNCIL
David Payne, COUNCIL
COMAL COUNTY MAIN NUMBER 877-724-9475
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JUDGE 830-221-1105 COMMISSIONERS COURT 830-221-1100 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT 2 830-438-2266
ANIMAL CONTROL 830-608-2016
CONSTABLE, PCT 2 830-438-3117
Yvonne Chapman (210) 240-3148 At Your Service YvonneLChapman@yahoo.com
ROAD & BRIDGE 830-608-2090
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TAX OFFICE 830-438-6172
EMERGENCY SERVICES
(IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL 911) NONEMERGENCY LINE 830-620-3400 BULVERDE SPRING BRANCH FIRE & EMS 830-228-4501 CENTRE FOR EMERGENCY HEALTH SCIENCES 830-228-4504
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FRONT PORCH NEWS editor@ci.bulverde.tx.us
Some of the content herein may be the copyrighted property of the City of Bulverde, the contributing authors, or our publisher's licensors. No article from this publication may be used, reproduced, transmitted or distributed with the exception that you may photocopy one copy thereof for your personal, noncommercial, home use only. Articles that appear in The Front Porch 1HZV GR QRW QHFHVVDULO\ UHĂ€HFW WKH RIÂżFLDO SRVLWLRQ RI WKH &LW\ RI %XOYHUGH DQG WKHLU SXEOLFDWLRQ does not constitute an endorsement thereof. The appearance of any advertisement in The Front Porch News does not constitute an endorsement by the City of Bulverde. As a City publication, the Front Porch News strives to maintain objectivity and accuracy in all published content. The newsletter must remain neutral in the publication of content that may be FRQVLGHUHG FRQWURYHUVLDO ELDVHG RU LQĂ€DPPDWRU\ ZLWKLQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ H J SROLWLFDO FRQWHQW or opinions, religious material, etc.). The newsletter differs from a newspaper in that opinion pieces are typically not included. Publication of contributing partner content is subject to review for applicability and appropriateness of a publicly funded communication initiative. The newsletter is produced in part through public funding, and is accordingly governed by the regulations set forth in Texas State Law.
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October 2015
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Mayor’s Point Bill Krawietz Mayor of Bulverde, TX The City of Bulverde will soon celebrate its 18th Birthday on November 4th. The City was created in 1997 when citizens in three separate elections voted in favor of incorporation by an overwhelming majority of approximately eight to one. There were several attempts at incorporating Bulverde before that which had failed miserably. So what was different about the 1997 vote? The biggest difference was a well thought out municipal plan. Forming a municipality in Texas is serious business, and must be done right. A well-built foundation is the key to any long-lasting endeavor. If not formed correctly, the statutory responsibilities required by the State can result in a newly formed city being a monster that lacks any meaningful authority to manage growth and development, but still has a ferocious appetite for tax revenue. There is quite a bit of built-in overhead and responsibility when a city is formed in Texas. Citizens of a municipality still have to pay all their County taxes, but now also add a City tax on top of that to fund the required State responsibilities. Those responsibilities sometimes seem endless, and the State legislature unfortunately continues to enact many new unfunded mandates almost every
year. There are the obvious ones like police services, municipal court, accounting, and road maintenance. Some of the more obscure responsibilities however are complying with extensive state record retention requirements, processing open records requests, public funds investment management, managing plats and subdivisions, attorney fees, mandatory yearly third-party auditing, mandatory personnel training, Texas Municipal League dues, code enforcement, complying with FEMA regulations, election costs, and so on. These are all things that the State and County no longer do for you once you are an incorporated municipality. Bulverde’s successful plan in 1997 included several key elements which assured both the necessary authority to manage growth and development, but also the necessary means of financial support to appropriately fund its operations without being an onerous burden to tax payers. Texas law limits the geographic area allowed during incorporation to two square miles if the population is less than 5,000. State law, however, allows for multiple contiguous areas to be incorporated and later merged, forming one municipal entity via “consolidation” and “confirmation” elections. The current City of Bulverde was actually five smaller, approximately 2-square mile cities that consolidated into one. Each one was predominantly a neighborhood of around 1,000 people. The first three municipalities to form were Bulverde South, Bulverde North and Bulverde East. Soon after, the cities of Bulverde West and Bulverde Northwest were also formed. It took almost four years and a total of 17 separate incorporation, consolidation, and confirmation elections to form all the individual cities and bring them together as one unified municipality. Over the years, this “economies of scale” proved to be very wise, as the now unified City of Bulverde was (Continued on page 4)
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able to lower its tax rate far below the rates that several of the individual cities had originally adopted, and is now one of the lowest in the Texas. Each one of the five individual cities included well developed residential neighborhoods within their city limits, as well as commercial corridors, in order to provide a good mixture of property tax base. Those individual areas were connected with narrow strips of highway land along FM 1863 and Hwy 46 to better manage growth through a more extensive Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Those narrow strips were connected to the east to New Braunfles ETJ and to the west to adjoin Boerne’s ETJ, forming a “wall” of sorts in Comal county to keep the City of San Antonio from ever extending north of us. If it weren’t for Bulverde’s incorporation in the late 1990’s, the City of San Antonio had plans to quickly reach north of HWY 46 via annexation, with an ETJ that would now extend well past the Guadalupe River. The last piece of the municipal plan was the eventual adoption of a Home Rule Charter. With a local “Constitution” overwhelmingly approved by Bulverde’s citizens in May 2015, Bulverde gained the ability to annex adjacent land and implement the necessary legal tools to better manage the development that our community is facing. If you look at a map of Bulverde’s City Limits you can clearly see the separate component cities/neighborhoods that consolidated, but also the large voids of undeveloped land between them. Now those undeveloped pieces can be brought into the City to help complete the puzzle, and ensure that they maintain the character of the community if they ever develop.
It is Bulverde’s intention to begin annexing investor-owned properties, or properties that are being marketed for near-term development, so that the City’s high standards of development can be applied, and to help ensure that only quality growth occurs in our area. If those undeveloped tracts do not wish to develop, however, the City Council encourages those owners to keep their property undeveloped by entering into a non-annexation/ non-development agreement with the City. The City Council hopes many of these properties will remain undeveloped, as this will help better maintain the rural nature of the Bulverde community in the long term, which is a major goal of this City Council. The City has of course had some bumps in the road and growing pains over the years, but we have worked through them. I think we are better off today making the decision to incorporate back in 1997. If we did not have a well thought out municipal plan, however, I think things would be much different. It takes a lot of resources, professionally trained staff, and many volunteer hours to maintain a well-run city and meet the legal obligations of the State of Texas. I can’t imagine if only one of the five component Bulverde Cities had incorporated. Even today, the City sometimes struggles to fill vacancies on various Boards and Commissions, even with a population over 5,000. Our property tax rate definitely would not be one of the lowest in the State, like it is today. There truly is strength in numbers.
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Comal County Corner by: Sherman Krause
About 125,000 people live in Comal County, which spans 575 square miles and includes all or parts of six cities and several other unincorporated communities. And all of it is served by one county jail. Every county in Texas is required by law to have a jail, which usually serves as the first step in a defendant’s journey through the legal system – the place where they are held until they make bond or stand trial. As a result, nearly every person arrested in Comal County comes to the jail, regardless of whether the arrest occurs down the street in New Braunfels, 30 minutes away in Bulverde or across the county in Fair Oaks Ranch. Every Comal County resident has a stake in the jail, which is why the Commissioners Court has put a bond proposition on the ballot in November for county residents to decide whether to fund it. If it passes, the $76 million bond issue would fund a new jail next door to the current facility. The current jail would be renovated into administrative space for the Comal County Sheriff’s Office. The jail – part of the Walter Fellers Law Enforcement Center – was built on West San Antonio Street in 1985 with 144 beds. In 1999, the county expanded it to 337 beds, anticipating that it would last another 20 years. It lasted 11.
We all know about the explosive growth Comal County has seen over the past 15 years. In 2009, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards assessed our jail and determined it had an effective maximum capacity of 300, which leaves room to accept new arrivals and make sure we can keep minimum- and maximumsecurity inmates separated. The average daily population of the jail exceeded that capacity for the first time in 2010 and has reached an all-time high of 320 so far this year. When the jail is too full to accept new inmates, we have to transfer them to other counties, paying those counties for housing our inmates while also paying for transportation and personnel costs to drop them off and pick them up. We’ve spent $20,000 so far this year to house inmates in Guadalupe County, not counting 10 female inmates currently housed there. On top of that expense, the jail’s maintenance costs have accelerated, now averaging over $200,000 annually. In 2010, the county spent almost $600,000 to fully replace the plumbing, which had begun to corrode. Every time a jail door breaks, it must be replaced by a custom-made one at a cost of thousands of dollars because no company manufactures them anymore. From 2010–14, the county spent nearly $1.2 million total on repairs and maintenance. The Commissioners Court understands that $76 million is a lot of money – which is why we feel only you can decide whether to spend it. A new jail won’t just affect Comal County law enforcement officers, it also will affect residents in Bulverde and every other community and neighborhood in Comal County. Election Day is Nov. 3. I encourage you to exercise your right to vote vote.
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The Front Porch News
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STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND COMAL COUNTY BOND ELECTION VOTING DATES, TIMES, AND LOCATIONS
Constitutional Amendment Election Ballot Language The following amendments to the Texas Constitution are proposed.
O C T OBE R Early Voting: Bulverde Spring Branch Library Oct. 19–23, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Oct. 24, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Oct. 25, 1–6 p.m. Oct. 26–30, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
N OVE M BE R Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Precinct 102: Bulverde Spring Branch Library Precinct 106: Smithson Valley Middle School Precinct 204: Bulverde City Hall Precinct 206: Johnson Ranch Elementary School Precinct 405: Rebecca Creek Baptist Church
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Senior Citizen & Military Discounts
Proposition 1 – SJR 1 “The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000, providing for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to reflect the increased exemption amount, authorizing the legislature to prohibit a political subdivision that has adopted an optional residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation from reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption, and prohibiting the enactment of a law that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple title to real property.” Proposition 2 – HJR 75 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect.” Proposition 3 – SJR 52 “The constitutional amendment repealing the requirement that state officers elected by voters statewide reside in the state capital.” Proposition 4 – HJR 73 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit professional sports team charitable foundations to conduct charitable raffles.” Proposition 5 – SJR 17 “The constitutional amendment to authorize counties with a population of 7,500 or less to perform private road construction and maintenance.” Proposition 6 – SJR 22 “The constitutional amendment recognizing the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to laws that promote wildlife conservation.” Proposition 7 – SJR 5 “The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for nontolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.” Please visit the Texas Legislature Online home page to obtain further information. Retrieved from http:// www.votetexas.gov/november-3-2015-constitutionalamendment-election-ballot-language/
JAIL FACTS PERTINENT TO THE COMAL COUNTY BOND ELECTION The following facts are presented to describe the current and future state of the Comal County Jail, and provide some detail about the Bond Election. Maintenance costs continue to increase Total costs in five-year increments 2000–04: $352,405 2005–09: $527,045 2010–14: $1,127,810 Major maintenance and repair projects in recent years have included plumbing replacement ($565,543), HVAC repairs ($32,442), kitchen floor replacement ($25,449), and replacing broken jail doors ($247,942). The jail reached its 20-year capacity 8 years early The 1999 expansion to 337 beds was estimated to last 20 years. As of 2011, according to a countycommissioned study, “the jail is basically at full capacity.” Over the past 12 months, the county periodically has sent prisoners to Guadalupe County at a direct cost of $50 per prisoner per day (not counting transport and personnel costs) because the current jail did not have room for them. Comal County growth expected to continue A 2009 assessment by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and a 2012 architect’s study recommended building a jail that can accommodate the county’s future growth.
Ten entities, including six municipalities, use the jail The Comal County Jail serves not just the sheriff’s office and four constables who patrol the unincorporated county, but also the cities of New Braunfels, Bulverde, Garden Ridge, Selma, Schertz and Fair Oaks Ranch, the Texas Departments of Public Safety and Parks and Wildlife, and the U.S. Marshals. Bond election comes after years of preparation • After the 2012 jail study, the county began looking at potential sites for a new jail. • After looking at sites for a new jail along FM 306 and FM 482, Comal County purchased 11.5 acres adjoining the current jail for $1.675 million in August 2014. • In early 2015, Commissioners Court contracted with Brinkley Sargent Wiginton Architects to estimate the cost of building a new jail and renovating the current jail and law enforcement center into new sheriff’s offices. • On Aug. 10, Brinkley Sargent Wiginton returned a preliminary design and estimate of about $76 million. Overall effect on county tax rate will be 1 cent To fund the bond purchase, the county estimates raising its property tax rate by 1 cent per $100 of value. For property valued at $200,000, that’s an increase of $20 per year.
The Front Porch News
Page 7
Texas Legislature Proposes More Highway Funding Proposition 7 Set for November 3rd Ballot Last November, 80% of Texas voters passed Proposition 1, which constitutionally dedicates a portion of each year’s oil and natural gas production taxes to the State Highway Fund. In 2014, this equated to roughly $1.7 billion in extra funding. However, with lower oil prices projected, it is estimated to be about $1.2 billion in each of the next two years, and will continue to fluctuate in future years. However, Proposition 1 alone will not address the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) estimated $5 billion annual funding gap that exists between minimal highway construction/ maintenance needs and available resources. The overwhelming passage of Proposition 1 sent a clear message to the Texas Legislature that voters want our Texas highways maintained, improved, and expanded to enhance quality of life and to keep Texas moving. As a result, two additional proposals were considered during the 2015 Legislative Session that will add new, predictable funding sources. The legislature decisively passed SJR 5, a two-part proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution that would direct billions each year to the State Highway Fund. The Texas Senate voted 31–0 and the Texas House voted 141–1 to send this package to the voters for a decision on November 3rd. It will appear as Proposition 7 on the November 3rd ballot, along with six other proposed Constitutional amendments. The first part of Proposition 7 proposes to dedicate up to $2.5 billion a year in state sales and use tax revenues to the State Highway Fund for construction and maintenance of non-tolled highways and bridges. This revenue would begin to be deposited into the State Highway Fund starting September 1, 2017. However, if a major recession caused sales tax revenues to drop below $28 billion for a specific year, no sales tax would go to the State Highway Fund for that fiscal year. Furthermore, future State Legislatures could cut the $2.5 billion by up to 50% in any given year by a twothirds vote. The second part of Proposition 7 proposes to annually transfer 35% of net revenue derived from the motor vehicle sales tax, when it exceeds the first $5 billion, and dedicate it to highway projects beginning September 1, 2019. It is estimated this revenue stream will produce about $430 million for the State Highway Fund in the first year and will increase as vehicle prices increase and more vehicles are purchased. As with last year’s Proposition 1, Proposition 7 will not increase taxes to consumers and will not add any new debt. Moreover, the amendment sets expiration dates of August Page 8
October 2015
31, 2032 for the $2.5 million sales and use tax provision and August 31, 2029 for the vehicle sales tax provision. However, future Legislatures, by a simple majority vote, may extend both funding streams in 10 year increments. In addition, the Legislature passed a budget that will end the diversion of about $650 million a year in revenues from the motor fuel tax and vehicle registration fees that were being allocated towards non-highway spending. They also passed HB 20 that prohibits any future diversions. This results in more sustainable long-term funding for future transportation projects. The proposed Proposition 7 sales tax dedication, Proposition 1 revenues, and the end of Highway Fund diversions together are projected to eventually add up to the $5 billion a year minimum highway funding gap identified by TxDOT. The BSB EDF and City of Bulverde encourage voters to get educated on Proposition 7 and express their right to vote on November 3rd. The BSBEDF is committed to assisting our community in its efforts to manage growth and support our local economy while maintaining our rural character and quality of life. Please visit our website at www.bsbedf.com, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bsbedf or call us at 830.885.4331 to learn more about who we are and what we do. Sherry Mosier President BSBEDF, Inc.
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GO TO A PARTY! Be sure to attend the National Night Out Block Party nearest you! There are several block parties scheduled throughout the Bulverde community on Tuesday, October 6th. National Night Out provides a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and local first responders. Throughout the community, there are block parties on these streets: • One party on John Charles; • Two parties on Bulverde Hills; • One on Sierra Vista; • One on Stirrup; • There is a central neighborhood gathering in Oakland Estates; • There are seven locations in Oak Village North on: Circle Oak, Olympus, Smithson Valley Road, Setting Sun, Sunlight, Blueberry Ridge, and two parties on Honeysuckle Branch (Check in your neighborhood for specific times and addresses for NNO block party gatherings near you.) The City of Bulverde wishes to thank all of the sponsors who helped to make National Night Out so much fun!
If you take photos at your NNO block party, please submit them to editor@ci.bulverde.tx.us so we can see and share the fun!
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BULVERDE’S GENEROSITY IN ACTION Most area residents know that Bulverde is a generous and caring community. This generosity was certainly on display in late August, when 26 local professional and charitable service providers came together on a hot and muggy Saturday at the Bulverde Community Park to offer their services for free or at a reduced rate for anyone who came to the Day of Services for the Bulverde Community.
The SVHS NJROTC earns a very special thanks and kudos—the young cadets worked very hard all day directing traffic, helping the vendors set up their booths, keeping the park clean, and helping with the “tear down” at the end of the event. They were all over the park that day! All of the ROTC participants were enthusiastic, polite, and extremely helpful. They are a credit to this community!
Hosted by the Spring Branch Bulverde Lions Club, the free event was a first of its kind in the Bulverde area. The services being offered ranged from anti-theft VIN etching on vehicles to free health and wellness screenings, free flu shots, free school supplies, free vision screenings, lowcost pet vaccinations, and free food!
The organizers of the event would like to acknowledge and thank the Lions Club and each of the service providers, charitable organizations, and volunteers for their participation in this inaugural event—a day of giving back to the community and helping those in need of services who otherwise may not have had those needs met if not for the generosity of their time and talent. The Lions have graciously agreed to host the event again in 2016, so we hope to see each of them again (and even more!).
A particular emphasis was on the kiddos and getting them ready for back to school. It is estimated that about 200 people visited the event that day, and participants gave away a generous supply of school supplies, kids’ clothing, kids’ dental screenings, kids’ haircuts, and lots of advice about health care coverage, family counseling services, and children’s immunizations. In addition to the services, there was food and fun to be had as well. The Smithson Valley NJROTC gave away free sausage wraps and other concessions, and the Blue Lions Train gave the kiddos a fun ride all around the park. Light Shine Ministries had a team of face painters who artfully turned children’s faces into tigers, butterflies, and super heroes. The park splash pad was a hit too, on such a hot day. Josh Beaman of Kathleen Banse State Farm and the folks from Bulverde Area Humane Society and HealthMarkets made sure that everyone stayed cool and hydrated by offering free cold beverages. There were plenty of sweets available also, with the Girl Scouts and the Humans of Smithson Valley offering baked treats.
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Page 10 October 2015
Heartfelt thanks go out to: Acacia Medical MissionWellness on Wheels Broadway Bank Bulverde Area Humane Society Bulverde Police Department Bulverde Police VIPS Bulverde Spring Branch Area Chamber of Commerce Bulverde Spring Branch Library Comal County Department of Public Health Comal County Sheriff’s Office Connections Dr. Damon Ross (Tooth Transitions) EMS J-CREW Girl Scouts Troop #869 HealthMarkets
Humans of Smithson Valley Kathleen Banse State Farm KCharles—Rachel Biesenbach and Katelyn Bradfute Leigh-Ann Shrum Light Shine Ministries Living Rock Academy Dr. Roy Madigan (Animal Hospital of Smithson Valley) Spring Branch Bulverde Family Lions Club Susan McConnell SVHS NJROTC Walgreens—Hannah Howlett
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Page 11
HONOR A LIFE… SAVE A LIFE Would you like to honor your friend or family member in a permanent and meaningful way? Perhaps it’s a special birthday, or they have received an award, or helped your family in a significant way. Would you like a memorial to a loved one that will be a permanent part of your community and be seen and respected daily? Judy Millspaugh shared, “I did a shield for my father and seeing it admired by people each day makes the loss easier.” Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS has a distinguished Wall of Honor at their Central Station at 353 Rodeo Drive in Spring Branch. It contains an artistically designed series of shield-shaped pewter finished plaques in honor of, or in memory of, your friends, loved ones, community groups, and businesses. The funds raised from the Wall of Honor help support the many community programs and to purchase equipment that guarantees that Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS continues to serve its community as a trusted and award winning 911 service. Each plaque is a $300 donation to Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS, a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. All First Responders hold special places in their hearts for the donors and those they honor. Honor a life…and Save a life.
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SAVE THE DATE Saturday, November 14th 6:30 Plan on heading out to Knibbe Ranch for the 6th Annual Denim & Diamonds Gala benefiting the Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS. Funds raised will help purchase new Air Tank Packs.
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The Right Place Emergency Services District #1 Commissioners selected Johnson Ranch as the best place to reach various neighborhoods. For one Oak Village North resident, it was also the right time. This resident suffered a massive heart attack that was significant enough to cause cardiac arrest. Fortunately, EMS and Fire 1st responders were there within 3 minutes, according to the Comal Sheriff’s Dispatch records. What happened before medical help arrived is part of the Chain of Survival and why the neighbor is still with us today. Oak Village North resident Shannon Olkowski was on her way to get frozen yogurt with her family and friends when she witnessed the patient collapse as she was passing by. She immediately stopped her vehicle and made first contact to render aid for the gentleman. Teenager Olivia Miller dialed 911 and handed the phone off to adult Marion Olkowski, who took over the call and gave the 911 Dispatcher all the pertinent information. While Shannon continued to assist the patient, Olivia and friends Reagan Trowel and Sara Olkowski ran to a neighbor’s house to enlist
the help of a young man, Austin Dancer, who knew CPR, which he performed. Meanwhile, two City of Bulverde Police officers arrived and immediately assisted the 1st Responders with stretchers and equipment. Another adult, Weslea Miller, who rushed to the scene when called by her daughter, said “it was amazing to watch everyone work. “They had the neighbor in an ambulance and whisked away to the hospital in record time,” she shared. Weslea was impressed with the professionalism of the crews and the willingness of so many neighbors to spring into action to help. To celebrate the Oak Village North neighborhood and their “caring for neighbors” attitude, Bulverde Spring Branch Fire & EMS will hold a Five Alive Comedy CPR & First Aid event at the Johnson Ranch Station at 30475 Johnson Way in Bulverde at 6:05 pm Monday October 5th. This class is FREE for all attending and is open to all ages. So we have the right number of instructors and equipment, please register by going to: http:// www.bsbcehs.org/ and clicking the “Register NOW” blue button on the right.
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(830) 968-4202 The Front Porch News
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B/SB Area Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar October 17 Community Wide Shred Day Sponsored By: Tobert CPA, LLC • American Bank of Texas • Bookkeeping by Val Chamber Members: 9:00 am – Noon Members can bring up to 20 bankers boxes for FREE Non-Chamber Members: 10:00am – Noon Non Members can bring up to 10 bankers boxes for $2 per box Location: BSB Chamber of Commerce Office 121 Bulverde Crossing, Bulverde, TX
October 21 Chamber Monthly Power Lunch Sponsored By: Akin, Doherty, Klein & Fuege, P.C. 12 Noon – 1:00 pm Location: Bulverde Spring Branch Library October 22 Business Networking Mixer 5:30 – 7:30 pm Sponsored by Texas Physical Therapy Specialists Location: 184 Creekside Park Rd, Ste 200, Spring Branch, TX Member Only Event
**For information on any of the above events, please see our website at bulverdespringbranchchamber.com or call the Chamber Office at (830) 438-4285
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The Front Porch News
Page 15
The Buzz
From the Garden By: Members of the Bulverde Community Garden Committee
THE OKRA IS BLOOMING! BY: Mark Whitney, Bulverde Community Garden Member
It is still hot out there, but that’s just fine with okra—they just love the sun. Plots 5, 15, and 17 in the Garden have planted okra and are those plants are doing great. Plot 15 got a head start and has a mature stand that is putting out fruit. The okra in plots 5 and 17 are younger, but is on the-grow. Okra are relatively easy to grow, and can be planted by seed. As they say, just add water, but they do need room to grow. Mature okra plants reach 6+ feet tall and can spread out a bit. They produce fruit mostly on the main stalk and on some side branches. They have very big flowers, which turn into the okra pods. As the plant grows, more flowers appear toward the top and produce new pods. This continues with new okra pods on nearly a daily basis for the life of the plant; however, you will need several plants to produce enough for a meal. Fried okra and okra gumbo are popular, but give a try cooking them on the grill – yum! If you or your business would like to secure a plot (at no cost), please visit the Garden website at www.bulverdecommunitygarden.com or contact Joanne Hall at jothall@gvtc.com. Donations gladly accepted. Also, interested persons are invited to attend the Bulverde Community Garden Committee meeting on the third Monday of the month at 5:15pm at the Bulverde Spring Branch Activity Center.
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Black Cats by Tom Blacklock
With jet black fur and golden eyes, the sleek black house cat is a perfect miniature panther. While both beautiful and regal, unlike its larger wild cousin, the house cat is a loving and gentle creature. Even with this friendly disposition the black cat is the least likely of felines to be adopted from shelters according to the SPCA. This enigma is due primarily to the stigma attached to the black cat. For centuries, black cats have played a role in folklore, superstition, and mythology. According to Greek mythology, Galen—who was turned into a cat—was forever known at the Mother of Witchcraft, causing black cats to be treated equally as witches. In the Middle Ages, black cats were believed to be witches incarnate. Primarily nocturnal stalkers, their nightly actions tended to make humans distrust them. This association with the darkness of night and because the color black has always been associated with evil, our ancestors’ fears of the black cat have carried on through the centuries. October, the month of Halloween, witches and black cats have become favorite icons for this holiday. In recent years this ill-conceived preoccupation with the dark nature of black cats at Halloween has resulted in black cats becoming the target of animal cruelty. Additionally, animal shelters across the United States have noted a spate of black cat adoptions shortly before Halloween, with many of these cats being returned to the shelters in days following the holiday.
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In addition to their natural beauty and docile demeanor, there are some interesting little known facts about black cats. For example, black is one of the three basic colors of cats which one could call “pure.� The other two colors are red and white. Thus cats which are neither black nor white are a combination of any two or three of these basic colors. There is not one breed of black cat. Instead the Cat Fanciers Association lists 19 breeds. Black cats can be either male or female but with more being of the male gender and those with golden eyes have a high melanin pigment content. Their natural beauty aside, the black cat is a loving and playful creature that makes an excellent furry addition to any household. This year’s kitten season has seen a significant increase in the number of black kittens at the Bulverde Area Humane Society Shelter. And true to form, adoption of these wonderful little critters has been slow. Even though they are just as playful as other colored kittens, they seem to be the last to be adopted. It is unfortunate because they are wonderful little companions who, we at the shelter have discovered, are friendly, playful and make wonderful pets. If you have a kitten in your plans, please come and visit with our bevy of black cats. But you need to do so after October because, like many animal shelters, BAHS will suspend adoptions of black cats during the month of October.
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN Many people would say that Halloween is the unofficial start of the fall and winter holiday season, and many of us here at Bulverde PD would probably agree. Halloween is the time of the year when we start seeing fall celebrations in the community, mainly Halloween parties. Working patrol on or around Halloween is always interesting given some of the costumes we have seen over the years. Regardless of how we celebrate Halloween, most would agree that Halloween is a day for children to put on their costume and go trick-or-treating in the community. As much free candy as your bag can hold would make most any child excited to get out and get started. While Halloween is meant to be fun, we must also keep safety in mind as well. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as on any other day of the year. Being in a rural area can sometimes make door-to-door trick-ortreating a bit more difficult, so members of the Bulverde Police Department will once again join the Bulverde Spring Branch Library for Trunk-or-Treat event which will be held on Saturday October 24th 6pm-7:30pm at the Bulverde Community Park, so come on out and join us for some trick or treating fun.
Here are a few safety tips while enjoying an evening of trickor-treating: • Walk safely by using sidewalks, crosswalks and not crossing the street in the middle of the block. Instead, cross the street at corners, and always look both ways before you cross. Continue looking both ways while you are in the street. • Put away electronic devices and pay attention to your surroundings by keeping your head up. • Watch for cars that are backing up, or making turning movements, as they may not always see you. • Wear reflective clothing when possible and make sure costumes fit appropriately to avoid tripping or falling. • Carry a flashlight, glow sticks or anything else that will help others see you easier. • Always go with an adult, as no one should ever go alone. Groups are much safer. Additionally, drivers should also take precautions on Halloween such as slowing down, limiting distractions, and taking extra time to look for kids at intersections. Remember that kids are excited and may move in unpredictable ways. Most neighborhoods will see increased pedestrian traffic, so drivers should be extra careful on Halloween. These are just a few things that can be done to make Halloween as safe as possible. Let’s do our part to make Halloween 2015 the safest Halloween yet.
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H ILL COUNTRY Page 18 October 2015
WRITING, READING, MAGIC, AND MOVIES AT THE LIBRARY! The Texas Writes Program, October 1st, 1-4pm, sponsored by the Writers’ League of Texas and the Tocker Foundation. Join us for an afternoon of writing instruction and discussion. We are thrilled to have two authors come to the library and talk about their publishing experiences.
Bring the family to The Comedy Magic Show of John O’Bryant on October 17, 11:00am! John O’Bryant is one of the most in demand magicians of today! He has been a regular featured act at SeaWorld Adventure Parks. Each show is jam packed with comedy, magic, illusion, music, and lots of audience participation! All ages welcome! No registration required.
“Ripped from the Headlines—Writing Fiction Based on Fact” will be Amanda Eyre Ward’s topic, how she uses newspaper clippings and personal obsessions to write bestselling books. “Pickling Memory: The Art of Researching and Writing Your Own Story, Your Family’s Stories, and The Lives of Your Community” will be Carol Dawson’s topic. This talk will inform listeners about the process of unearthing history and shaping it into a readable and compelling narrative.
Our Family Movie Night will be on October 23, 6:00pm. Bring your own snacks and come watch the movie version of this month’s Family Book Club Book Matilda (PG)!
This program is free and open to the public. Registration for the event can be found on our calendar page of our website. Refreshments will be served.
As always in October we have some Halloween fun planned. Look at our calendar of events to find Fall & Halloween crafts, a Paranormal Presentation, Trunk or Treat and more. All events are free and open to the public but some require registration. Find us at www.bsblibrary.org or on Facebook or call us at 830438-4864. We are located at 131 Bulverde Crossing, Bulverde, TX, 78163.
Our Family Book Club Book for the month of October is Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Read along with your family and come to the library to enjoy Matilda-themed events!
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The Front Porch News
Page 19
On the Cover The striking golden eyes of this little black kitten certainly capture the attention and imagination of anyone who sees our cover. Black cats may have a reputation for being mysterious or for causing bad luck to befall you should one cross your path, but this little guy is only interested in posing for his photo op. Photographed by Michelle Grizzell of Seize the Light Photography, this sweet kitten is far from being bad luck, and will grow to be a sleek and beautiful cat. Michelle has a particular skill in capturing the beauty and personality of all of the animals she photographs. She is a regular contributor to the Front Porch News and does much of her pet photography at the Bulverde Area Humane Society. Thank you, Michelle, for once again providing us with a terrific cover shot!
Gallery Happenings It has been a very active summer for the Bulverde Area Arts Center. Their Juried Show, which opened with an enthusiastic reception on August 21, continues through Saturday, October 10. Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10 will be your last opportunity to see this exhibit. Preparations are underway for the next exhibit which will feature the watercolor art of visiting artists from the Bulverde and San Antonio area. The show will open with a reception on Friday, October 16, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. The public is invited to come and meet the artists and enjoy the hospitality of the Bulverde Area Arts Center. The exhibit will run through Sunday, October 15. There is no admission charge to attend the reception or visit the gallery. During the Bulverde Jubilee and the Christmas Lighting events BAAC sponsors hands-on art adventures for children. This past summer BAAC held a Young Artists Workshop Series of classes for children interested in art. The workshop was held in the classroom of the BAAC Gallery. The Bulverde Area Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization and exists to promote the visual arts in the Bulverde/ Spring Branch area. They host numerous exhibits throughout the year including a show featuring the art of Smithson Valley High School Artists. The Bulverde Area Arts Center Gallery is located at 2355 Bulverde Road, across from Mike’s in the Village. The gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00 to 8:00 pm and Sundays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Admission to the gallery is free.
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PLANS FOR KLECK PARK ARE UNDERWAY Work has begun on turning a 43-acre property donated to the county into a hike-and-bike park for the BulverdeSpring Branch area. Kleck Park has remained a densely wooded piece of land even as development has grown up in western Comal County, but its long-awaited transformation began in September with the clearing of some of that brush to make a series of trails.
The Comal County Commissioners Court on Aug. 20 approved a $14,000 bid to clear land at the park, a project that got underway in September. Depending on how much work needs to be done to prepare the site after the trails are cleared, the park could open before the end of the year, said county Parks Director Robert Boyd.
The land was donated in 2014 by the Helena Kleck Vivian Living Trust. It’s not completely vacant – 16 birdhouses sit in trees throughout the property. The trails will avoid those trees, as well as go around any substantial oaks that might otherwise be in the way. After the land’s donation, a Comal County Engineer’s Office intern armed with a GPS coordinates plotter hiked through the property, setting the courses for the 1.6 miles of trails. Last fall, county parks employees came through, made adjustments and staked out the paths, which also run alongside cave features on the north side of the property.
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The Front Porch News
Page 21
STER GAR MA
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TEXAS
Comal Master Gardeners to Host Open House
Park Shine How we can keep our park looking beautiful
by Lee Franzel
by Adrian Valdez
Comal Master Gardeners will stage the association’s third Open House on the AgriLife Grounds, 325 Resource Drive, NB 78132 on Saturday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you’ve ever been to the park for an afternoon walk, then you know that there is almost nothing better than catching a beautiful sunset at the end of the day. The wide open sky complimented with the engaging patterns of clouds create a picturesque scene that brings a real sense of joy and what only can be described in this park lover’s mind as “PEACE.�
TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE Texas A&M System
Home gardeners will find many ways to expand their knowledge of gardening, landscapes, and plants that will succeed in our challenging environment. Handouts will be available regarding the culture of many different types of plants, which can be seen growing at the site. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. Tours of the Demonstration Gardens include the Vegetable Garden, Earth-kind Rose Garden, Antique Roses, the Native and Adapted Landscape areas, the Herb Garden and Native Grass beds. Families are invited to attend the free event. Baby farm animals will be on hand for a Petting Zoo by Comal 4-H. Kids are invited to make bird feeders using toilet tissue rolls and bird seed. Demonstrations include speakers on Bugs, Butterflies, Drip Irrigation, Water Catchment, Mulch and Compost, with a rain collection barrel as a door prize. The Comal County Gardening Guide will be available for sale. Mailboxes around the grounds will contain informational bulletins on various gardening subjects. Vegetable Chili will be available from our Texas A&M County Agents. CMG members will bring free transplant starts, and cookies will be provided. For more information, please see the Comal Master Gardener website at: www.txmg.org/comal
(l-r) Kay Zwart, Nina Klippen, and Deb Kuykendall show off the new Keyhole Garden at the AgriLife Veggie Garden. Kay, Nina, and Deb recently completed the Comal Master Gardener class. P ublished d and d distributed d by:
Neighborhood News, Inc. 3740 Colony Drive Suite 120 San Antonio, TX 78230 (210) 558-3160 * (210) 558-3163 fax Info@NeighborhoodNews.com
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A stroll around the walking path will grant one an outside look at all the fun being had in our beautiful park. Many families enjoy all the wonderful amenities that the park has to offer. Parents can look on (or join in) as their children laugh and play in the ever popular splash pad. Many make memories together on the playground equipment, whether it’s on the swings, merry-go-round, or the newest addition, the north side playground complete with slides and various obstacles for everyone to climb on, in, and across. Out in the fields, one can see little ones in various sports team practices not only learning the ins and outs of a game but also life lessons associated within them. The basketball court stays busy with both adults and youngsters working on their shot or enjoying a game with both old and new friends. But just how does the park stay looking so good? Who puts that fine tuning and finishing touches on the place where so many of us go to enjoy moments like these and so many others? Enter the Friends of the Park. Every fourth Saturday of the month these and many other passionate patrons of the park come together to dedicate two to three hours of their time to keeping our park looking and feeling the best it can, ensuring that all who come enjoy it will have the same opportunities to make their own memories. From picking up trash, to planting newly dedicated trees, shrubs, or flowers, installing dedication bricks, or helping spread mulch around trees and garden beds, these dedicated volunteers help keep the park shining! The real magic behind the monthly Park Shine is that anyone can join in. Any and all volunteers are welcome and there is no special experience needed. There is always something for any age to help with and the benefits go further than just in the park. Ask any of the volunteers and they will tell you that the benefit of making a difference in the park is coupled with the satisfaction and ownership of making that difference. Just seeing the smiles on all the visitors coming in during the park shine makes a lasting impression on how you will feel about the impact they have on the park and the community. How can you get involved? You can contact the Park Shine Coordinator, Adrian Valdez, at (619) 519-6446 or email the Friends at Info@BulverdeParks.com or follow the Friends of the Park Facebook page to learn about our Park Shine opportunities! All are welcomed and encouraged to join in on this opportunity to really get to the heart of what the park is about, bringing our community together.
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What will change? Well... nothing! Your address will be removed from the mailing list and a digital copy will be emailed to you within the next couple of issues. We are so pleased to be offering this new service! Questions? Feel free to contact Neighborhood News at (210) 558-3160 with any website-related questions.
Page 22 October 2015
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Odds-n-Ends Death by Design Opens at S.T.A.G.E. The 2015-2016 S.T.A.G.E., Inc. 37th Season opens with Death by Design, a Comedy with Murder by Rob Urbinati, on October 1 through 18. Take the humor of Noel Coward, the mystery of Agatha Christie, add a husband and wife with a love/hate relationship, throw in an assortment of interesting and zany house guests, top it off with a feisty maid and dashing chauffer and you have the perfect recipe for laughter. A hilarious new who-done-it classic. Opening night is a benefit performance for Friends of Bulverde/Spring Branch Library. No season tickets will be accepted. A reception follows immediately after the performance for an opportunity to meet the director and cast. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, curtain time is at 8:00 p.m., with an optional dinner served at 6:30 p.m. before the show. Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. with a 1 p.m. lunch available. Contact S.T.A.G.E. for ticket prices at (830) 438-2339. The Krause House Theatre (Home of S.T.A.G.E., Inc.) is located at 1300 Bulverde Road in Bulverde and is wheelchair accessible.
SALE or LEASE COMMERCIAL 281 Frontage 7600 SF- 5 ac. Beautiful Scenic Nature Setting Trees, Pond, Lawns, Private UNIQUE PROPERTY Ideal for offices, spa, medical, restaurant, daycare, church, event or retreat center, retail or your own business ∙5000 SF main bldg. ∙2, 1000 SF out-bldgs. ∙small barn - 600 SF
Provisions Outreach Needs You! Provisions Outreach, the local food pantry, is in need of volunteers on Thursday mornings. Provisions is located at 2295-1 Bulverde Road (behind Wine 101) and is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you can lend some time to this very worthy organization, please call executive director Dora Baker at 830-438-7899 for more information.
Identifying Hill Country Trees by a Key The Lindheimer Chapter (Comal County) of the Native Plant Society of Texas will hold their monthly meeting on October 20 at GVTC Auditorium at located at 36101 FM 3159, Canyon Lake. The doors open at 6:30 and meeting starts at 7:00. The speaker will be Susan Sander. Her topic will be “Identifying Hill Country Trees by a Key”. The public is welcome. For more information call Mary Moses, 210-279-5748.
Electronics Recycling The public is welcome to drop off their unwanted consumer electronic materials in the lower parking lot of the BSB Library on Saturday, October 24, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Items such as computers, cell phones, & printers will be accepted for recycling. (No televisions will be accepted.)
Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Bulverde Spring Branch Library
LEA SE ALL FO R $ 1 .0 0 P er S F ! or buy at $1,150,000 with owner financing Call for info and showing-
The public is invited to the Bulverde Spring Branch Library’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 11th. The BSB Library is located at 131 Bulverde Crossing, Bulverde TX 78163
Val- (830)833-4477 The Front Porch News
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TX PERMIT NO. 1568
Bulverde City Hall 30360 Cougar Bend Bulverde, Texas 78163
Time Dated
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State Constitutional Amendments and Comal County Bond Election Voting Dates, Times, and Locations November
October Early Voting: Bulverde Spring Branch Library
Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.
19–23, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 24, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. 25, 1–6 p.m. 26–30, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Election Day: 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3
Precinct Precinct Precinct Precinct Precinct
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